Planning a Tax-Free Retirement

Let’s talk about employer loyalty. For much of the 20th century, Americans (by and large) followed a standard script: enter the workforce and work for a single company for decades, then throw a retirement party at 65 and cash in a pension – a reward for years of company loyalty. This pension provided retirement income; usually, a percentage of the yearly salary the employee earned while working. American Express established the first corporate pension plan in the US in 1875. By 1960, about half of the private sector employees had a pension. Of course, in 1960 the average life expectancy was 67, meaning that if you retired at 65 (standard at the time), the average pension only had to provide income for two years.

Since 1960 there have been many advances in modern medicine raising average life expectancy to 79. Suddenly, plans designed to cover a few years of post-retirement income were expected to cover retirees well into their 80s and 90s. Companies offering pensions began to realize that their retirement plans were becoming increasingly – sometimes prohibitively – expensive to fund. As pension expenses continued to rise towards the end of the 20th century, many companies were forced to design new systems to ensure their employees were financially secure come retirement.

The 401(k) plan hit the streets in 1980. The employer-sponsored retirement plan was rolled out as a replacement to traditional pensions and has since become the most common retirement savings mechanism in America. In essence, the 401(k) provides a tax-deferred way for employees to set aside wages for retirement. Employees elect to divert a certain percentage of their income each year to a 401(k) account. The diverted funds grow tax-free in that account until the employee retires.

In addition to providing the account, most companies offer a savings-match system. For instance, in a 3% match system, the company would match up to 3% of an employee’s elective contributions to their 401(k) account. The employer match provides a strong incentive for employees to start planning for retirement. If an employee doesn’t divert AT LEAST the match threshold into a 401(k) they miss out on the employer match – in other words, they lose out on free money from their employer.

Let’s talk about the benefits. Funds in a 401(k) account are able to grow tax-free. Because growth is not disturbed by capital gains taxes, accounts are able to grow faster than a standard individual account. Of course, there’s always a catch: money in employer-sponsored plans – like a 401(k) – cannot be withdrawn prior to age 59 ½ without paying penalties. Most plans offer options for the participants to increase their contribution rate on an annual basis, and small increases in contribution rate (even as small as 1%) year over year can make a huge difference by the time you retire.

Contributing to employer-sponsored retirement plans such as a 401(k) or 403(b) – the non-profit version of a 401(k) – is a vital part of preparing for retirement. The money is automatically deducted before your paycheck is cut, making it easy to budget and painlessly save for retirement at the same time.

Contributing to employer-sponsored retirement plans is an essential step towards retirement planning – but it is only the first step.

Please contact me at zach.swaffer@trilogyfs.com if you are interested in discussing the next steps you can take to ensure retirement security.

Password managers are a key resource in maintaining your security. They allow you to keep track of your passwords and encrypt them before they leave your device. Some password vaults can also generate and change passwords for you in one click, as well as securely store other types of data like credit card information. Password managers may remind you to change passwords regularly, evaluate their strength, or scan the dark web to check if any of your logins appeared online. A password manager also makes sharing your data with family and friends safer.

When using a password manager, you’ll only need to remember one master password. Combine it with multi-factor authentication (MFA)and biometric authentication to increase your security.

While they can increase your security exponentially, even reliable password managers can’t keep you 100% safe online. Following are a list of possible risks and ways to mitigate them:

1. Not all devices are secure enough. Password managers can be hacked if your device is infected with malware. Users should invest in a trustworthy antivirus that will secure all devices first and reduce risks.
2. Not using biometric authentication. NordPass, RoboForm, and Keeper all offer a biometric authentication option, such as requiring a fingerprint or face scan which offers another level of protection.
3. Utilizing a Bad password manager. Not all password managers are created equal. Make sure the software you use does not lack the necessary security features to effectively protect your credentials at all times.
4. Forgetting your master password. Select a password manager that has a reset feature or store your master password in some physically secure place. Be sure to enable account recovery options.
5. Know what data is in your password manager. Be sure to know which accounts are stored in your password manager so in the case of a breach, you know which accounts to take action on, thus leaving the attacker with less time to cause more harm.

In a digital landscape where cyber threats are on the rise, using a password manager is a proactive measure that can overall protect your personal information and maintain robust online security. It simplifies the process of managing passwords, strengthens your defenses against unauthorized access, and provides peace of mind in an increasingly interconnected world. If you don't already, consider integrating a reputable password manager into your digital routine to enjoy the benefits of streamlined and fortified password security.